Where did all the former 2019 White Sox go?

Who will fill Jon Jay's unproductive shoes? / (Carl Skanberg)

Coming over from FanGraphs to appear on ESPN.com, Craig Edwards tried to identify one player in each organization who could crash the 26-man roster from outside the 40-man one.

For the White Sox, he chose Tayron Guerrero, which makes sense. The White Sox liked his 100-mph arm enough to add him to the 40-man roster, at least before further moves knocked him off. There’s a decent chance he could reestablish his presence, especially if you don’t limit him to Opening Day.

For the Reds and Braves, Edwards chose a couple guys who couldn’t hack it with the White Sox the year before. I knew Nate Jones found a new Cincinnati home next to his old Kentucky one, but this is how I learned that Yonder Alonso found work on a minor-league deal with the Atlanta Braves.

And so I started wondering where all of the other White Sox who appeared in at least one game had scattered to. Best I can tell, there are 14 other such players besides Jones and Alonso, and the whole host of them contributed a combined -2.2 WAR to the cause (Baseball-Reference.com, except Baseball Prospectus for catchers).

In order from most WAR to least:

Yolmer Sánchez (2.1 WAR)

The beloved White Sox second baseman signed a minor-league deal with the Giants. He supposedly turned down major-league offers, which doesn’t make a whole lot of sense as a plural. I can see him turning down a lesser offer from the White Sox, where he probably wouldn’t be able to surface as a starter again due to the arrival of Nick Madrigal, but others would be tougher to explain.

Sánchez recognizes the professional dead end he hit with his plunging slugging percentage, and enlisted outside help to change his swing. Now, “changed my swing” is often the new “Best Shape of His Life,” but he can at least point to 2017 as an example of more in store.

Then again, it might be hard to see since he’s moving to much more difficult park for hitters. With his existing skill set, it works in his favor.

Iván Nova (2.1 WAR)

After delivering what the White Sox asked from him and not an inning more, Nova heads to the Detroit Tigers on a $1.5 million deal to serve the same purpose — innings and starts for a rebuilding team that needs to cross days off the calendar.

Josh Osich (0.5 WAR)

Osich came from fringe 40-man status to lead the White Sox bullpen in innings (67⅔). The 4.66 ERA isn’t impressive, although it was partially a function of his job to wear it, pitching in low-leverage situations against righties. His performance over his last 18 outings salvaged his season, although it wasn’t enough to maintain 40-man status. The White Sox tried to outright him in advance of the non-tender deadline, but he was claimed by the Red Sox, who were successful getting him through waivers.

Nate Jones (0.2 WAR)

Although he was technically a member of the Texas Rangers organization for financial purposes, Jones is throwing his first pitch for a team that isn’t the White Sox in 2020. It shouldn’t feel too weird, because he landed with his hometown team, the Cincinnati Reds.

Ryan Goins (0.2 WAR)

The last player who you can say did his job on this list, Goins landed a minor-league deal with the Oakland A’s, just like so many former White Sox before him. Manager Bob Melvin‘s first impressions of Goins: “He’s a nice little player.”

Thyago Vieira (-0.2 WAR)

After he failed to find a working secondary pitch to get hitters off a high-90s fastball with sketchy command, the White Sox released Vieira to let him pursue an opportunity with the Yomiuri Giants.

Hector Santiago (-0.2 WAR)

If three’s a trend, then Santiago won’t be getting a fourth stint with the White Sox.

  • 2011-13: 3.41 ERA over 224.2 IP
  • 2018: 4.41 ERA over 102 IP
  • 2019: 6.66 ERA over 25.2 IP

He’s joining Nova, albeit via a minor-league deal, on the Tigers, who were taken aback by the résumé he sent out to the league:

“Need a pitcher? I can. Starter, long relief, middle relief, left-handed specialist, closer, finisher, mop-up. Start on short rest. Start today pitch tomorrow. I’ve done it all. Need a guy to abuse to save the rest of the bullpen, that’s been my career! Let’s do it. I’m all in. It’s all me. I’ll throw 162 games. I’ll throw live BP for hitters before games and be ready for the game the same night. Trust me, you can’t throw me too much.

“Manager: How you feel? Me: I’m good to go. Let’s go, put me in. Can you shag BP by yourself? Yup, I’ll do it. Can you flip (short toss to hitters) in the cage? Yup, got it. Hec, can you clean the spikes? Yup, got it. Hec, can you wash the uniforms tonight? Yup. I’ll be the yes man for whoever needs me to be. My career has literally been just like this— ha-ha.”

In terms of baseball stuff, they were more impressed by his performance with Puerto Rico in winter ball.

Ervin Santana (-0.2 WAR)

The Mets signed Santana after the White Sox cut him loose, but he couldn’t make it out of Triple-A Syracuse, posting a 5.38 ERA over 82 innings. Now 37, he remains unsigned.

Odrisamer Despaigne (-0.3 WAR)

Santana’s brother in three-start ignominy, Despaigne will try to sustain his career with the KT Wiz in the KBO. It’s worth his while.

Manny Bañuelos (-0.4 WAR)

Bañuelos was able to pick up his second, third and fourth MLB victories at the age of 28, but his White Sox career effectively ended when he gave up 10 straight two-out hits against Boston on May 4, even if he made nine appearances afterward. He’s with Seattle on a minor-league deal.

Ryan Cordell (-0.6 WAR)

Cordell had moments, but in the end, only Statcast’s outfield metric enjoyed his work with the White Sox. He landed with the New York Mets on a minor-league deal, and his immediate major-league prospects hinge on the health of Yoenis Cespedes. That’s actually not a bad situation for him.

Jose Rondón (-0.7 WAR)

It’s never a good sign when you’re only good enough to get one plate appearance with the 2019 Orioles, but Rondón is back for a second shot at those sweet, sweet rebuilding plate appearances.

Charlie Tilson (-0.8 WAR)

Considering all the lower-body trauma he suffered during and after his White Sox debut, the 95 other games he played for the White Sox register as a personal triumph. The White Sox designated him for assignment last year, and he’ll try to resurface in the majors with the Pirates.

Jon Jay (-0.8 WAR)

A mysterious hip issue cost Jay months and prevented his White Sox career from ever getting off the ground. He had to resort to a minor-league deal with the Arizona Diamondbacks, with whom he hopes to spend at least 5½ weeks.

Yonder Alonso (-0.9 WAR)

Manny Machado’s other friend experienced a dead-cat bounce with the Colorado Rockies, hitting .260/.357/.479 over 84 plate appearances after the White Sox cut him loose. One strange note: Alonso’s last 25 games with the Rockies were all as a pinch hitter/defensive replacement. He didn’t take to the role all that well, going 4-for-23.

He’ll probably have to figure out the bench bat lifestyle from here on out, because he signed a minor-league deal with the Atlanta Braves.

Dylan Covey (-1.2 WAR)

The embodiment of the White Sox rebuild landed with the Tampa Bay Rays. I already wrote about it enough, but if he can’t make it there, he can’t make it anywhere.

Welington Castillo (-1.3 WARP)

Castillo slugged .560 over the last two months of the season, which made me wonder if he or James McCann would have a better 2020. McCann isn’t necessarily happy about the Yasmani Grandal signing, but at least he only has one catcher above him. Castillo opens this year on a minor-league deal with the Washington Nationals, who succeeded with Kurt Suzuki and Yan Gomes.

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knoxfire30

Gross, thats like 40 mil in committed salary from last year for a bunch of junk.

As Cirensica

Yolmer is not junk. Nova was OK more often than not. The rest is junk not worth minimum salary.

knoxfire30

On the open market these junkers got a minor league deal, and 1.5 mil deal… pretty junky. The rest were far worse though sure.

Trooper Galactus

If somebody had told you before 2019 that Nova would post the exact stats that he did, pretty much all of us would have been just fine with that as the result of the talent traded and money committed to acquire him.

knoxfire30

I would not of been, but some people have very low expectations for 9 mil.

Trooper Galactus

A mid-rotation starter is worth that. If Nova were a bit younger he’d likely have gotten that and more on the open market.

GrinnellSteve

I’ve always liked Santiago. He’s an intelligent and thoughtful guy. I hope he finishes second to Reynaldo Lopez in the Cy Young voting.

Trooper Galactus

That spot is reserved for Lucas Giolito.

GrinnellSteve

Since I was wishin’ and hopin’ I figured Lopez’ Cy Young would mean more to the Sox’ championship chances.

HallofFrank

This Kentuckian sure appreciated the “old Kentucky” joke. Well done. 

karkovice squad

Considering all the lower-body trauma he suffered during and after his White Sox debut, the 95 other games he played for the White Sox register as a personal triumph. The White Sox designated him for assignment last year, and he’ll try to resurface in the majors with the Pirates.

Are they going to turn him into a 2-way player like they tried with Shuck before him? Only fair to expose his arm to as much trauma as his legs have had.

Gutteridge70

Really surprised about Yolmer not signing with major league team when he had the opportunity. Thought Nova gave value for what he was asked to do. Feel sorry for he injury prone Tilson and Jones.

Trooper Galactus

Well, Jones got paid, despite clauses in his contract that attempted to protect the team financially if he got injured, so I don’t entirely feel sorry for him. Tilson, sadly, never really got a chance to establish himself before disaster struck repeatedly, and consequently will likely never see his millions materialize (not from MLB, anyhow).

burning-phoneix

I think I heard Yolmer picked the deal that would give him the most ABs rather than sit on the bench a lot as a defensive replacement

asinwreck

The problem is this is a rebuilding team that wants to see what Mauricio Dubon is and also signed Wilmer Flores to a 2-year deal (major league and all). Unless Yolmer’s agent heard the Giants have a deal to ship Evan Longoria out, this is not a great situation for starting time.

Pointerbabe

Hector always had the right sense of humor to survive the White Sox organization- hope he comes back in the future  as a coach/launderer/fungo guy.

lil jimmy

I’ve been reading Spanish to English translations to today. So maybe he comes back as a “gardener”